Page 2 of The Godfather’s Christmas Twins

I shrug and give him a coy smile. “Hot date.” The lie comes easily because it could be true. In fact, if I can leave and go to the club, maybe I’ll find Denise. She’s always good for a solid night of fucking. Or at least she was five years ago.

No, if I can get out of here, I’m heading to the airport and flying home. I’ve got plenty of women to choose from to dealwith the constant hard-on I’ve had since returning to New York to guard Gia.

“Don’t lie to me,” Nic snaps.

I look down, feeling the shame from lying. “I just need to go.”

“You can go after you help Gia do the dishes.” Now he’s the one being a dick.

“Fine.” I start to walk away, but Nic stops me.

“I love you, man. Please, tell me what’s going on?”

“Nothing. I just want to go home.” That’s the truth, even if I don’t reveal the reasons. I look down where his hand is holding my arm. “I’m going to do the dishes.”

He releases me, and I go to the kitchen to do as my Don ordered. The dinner dishes are already in the dishwasher. It’s just the big pots and pans soaking in the sink that need to be washed. My sleeves are already rolled up as I turn on the water and start to scrub.

“Would you like another drink?”

I stop short as Gia’s voice cuts through the sound of the water.

I don’t look up but instead resume scrubbing turkey bits from the pan. “No. Thanks.”Please leaveruns like a mantra through my mind.

“Did I do something to make you mad?”

Inwardly, I swear, feeling even shittier that I’m making her think she’s to blame for my assholishness. “No.”

“Max, I’ve been trying to find time to talk to you but?—”

“There’s nothing to talk about.” I rinse the pot and set it on the counter.

She’s quiet, and I can picture in my mind’s eye the hurt on her face that I’m acting like five years ago didn’t happen. That I hadn’t given in and fucked her. That I hadn’t fallen for her. That I hadn’t turned around and left her to marry that fucker Aldo Cantore instead of saving her from an abusive, loveless marriagearranged by her father. The only silver lining from that is her kids. I can see how much she loves them. She’s a wonderful mother.

“It’s important?—”

“How can it be? It’s been over five years.” I quickly finish the last two pots and dry my hands on a dish towel hanging by the sink. “I’ve got to get going.” Then like the coward I am, I leave the kitchen. Once again, I walk away from Gia Nardone.

“I’m heading out. Dishes are done, Boss,” I announce to Nic. He looks at me like he doesn’t know who I am.

“Bye, Uncle Max.” The kids rush over to give me a hug. I try to guard against the pang of sadness that fills me. If life had been different, these kids could have been mine. If Nic weren’t my best friend. If I weren’t Gia’s Godfather. If Gino Nardone didn’t tell me he’d kill Gia if she didn’t marry Aldo… If, if, if.

“Be good to your mom,” I say to the twins. I glance over at Bella sitting on the couch. “Merry Christmas, Bella.”

“Merry Christmas, Max.”

Nic rises from next to Bella and walks me to the door. “Last chance. What’s going on?”

I shake my head. “I’m going home. That’s all.” I smile, wanting to change the mood of this parting moment. “I know it’s not my place, but I’m proud of you. I know your mom and Gia’s mom would be too. You’re going to be a great Don.” And it’s true. Nic is ruthless, but he’s not a homicidal maniac with depraved sexual tendencies like his father was. He’ll be a good Don. He’ll help everyone make even more money. And because he’s a lawyer, he’ll do it while keeping everyone out of jail.

“Travel safe, brother.” He gives me a hug, and then I hightail it out of Gia’s front door.

Free. At last.

I say goodbye to the men outside who I’ve been working with since my return to New York. I have one of them drive me to theairport, calling for a pilot so I can lift off and head to Las Vegas ASAP.

Once in the private plane, flying west, thousands of feet from the ground, I let out a breath. It feels like I’ve been holding it since the moment Nic called me two months ago and asked me to come home to protect Gia. I hadn’t wanted to do it. But how could I get out of it? I’d made a promise to her mother all those years ago.

At seventeen, Gia’s mother, Nic’s stepmother, asked me and Nic to protect her infant, Gia, if anything happened to her. As her brother and heir to the family, Nic would be able to assert his power to make decisions for Gia. Me? I was just a soldier with no real connection to the family, so she made me Gia’s godfather.

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